For years visitors have been able to enjoy a cream tea on the rooftop of Brighton and Hove's tourism jewel the Royal Pavilion.

Now its sister site in Hove is hoping to offer visitors a similar experience with a new terrace for the most British of traditions.

Brighton and Hove City Council is seeking permission to create a ground-floor terrace area at the venue in New Church Road to allow visitors to take time out from enjoying the tourist venue's acclaimed craft, children's toys and art collections.

The team behind the proposal say they aim to create a more “open” and “relaxing” dining option for visitors in the 19th century grounds.

But they have been warned by planning experts they will have to take special care not to interfere either with a cherry tree or the dramatic Jaipur Gates that stand by the front gate.

An application to carry out the work was originally submitted earlier this summer. However, proposals have been reshaped after local conservation officers advised they should be made more subtle, more in-keeping with the surroundings and should not detract from the Jaipur Gate.

The new scheme involves the creation of a 40 sq m area marked off with a low perimeter wall around the west side of the museum.

The application also states that while extra seating capacity will be created, it is not expected to create any further jobs at the museum.

A council spokesman said: “The idea is to enhance the experience of customers to the café by offering them the choice of sitting outside in the garden if they choose.

“On the advice of council conservation officers it would be a very subtle addition, in order to minimise impact on the Jaipur Gate, the lovely ornamental carved gate in the grounds.”

The gate was donated to Hove Museum in 1926 having originally been built for a colonial exhibition opened in London by Queen Victoria in 1886.

In 2004 it was dismantled for conservation, structural reinforcement and weatherproofing by specialist contractors.

The tea rooms are currently run by restaurateurs Peyton and Byrne who also provide food for visitors to the Royal Academy of Arts, The National Gallery and at Kew Gardens.

The firm, which is run by BBC Great British Menu judge Oliver Peyton, took over the running of the council's museum cafés in November last year.